Visa Interview Day

U. S. Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia (source: The Traveling Cow)

I was scheduled for the interview on December 29th, 2016 at 12:30 PM. I was ready since 10:00 AM but my Grab driver (online transportation) came around 10:30 AM. And to make it more dramatic, he took the wrong route. He insisted that it was faster and I could be there around 12:00 PM, so I trusted him. But when I was stuck in the traffic and it was already 11:30 PM and we were nowhere near the embassy, I knew I should have not have given him the benefit of a doubt, but it was too late to go back. Traffic jam after traffic jam after traffic jam and I was livid with him. I strongly believed that I would not gonna make it to the interview and I just wanted to cry. It was 11:45 PM and we were still 44 minutes away from the embassy (22 minutes). That time, I just wish that they would let me in even though I was late. It was the most stressful journey and I should have not been this stressful before my interview. At 12:10 PM, we finally arrived in Gambir train station, the embassy is 3 km (8 mins) away from the train station. I told my driver to drop me off anywhere near the embassy because I didn't want to be in the car any longer with the bad traffic, I planned to run to the embassy. I finally made it at 12:25 PM. I told the security that I had an immigrant visa interview schedule and he kept my electronic devices and let me in. I was SO RELIEVED that I could make it on time.

There were only 4 applicants and I was the only one who applied for the Spouse Visa, the others applied for a Fiance Visa. At 12:40 PM, the officer finally appeared at the window and said the first one who came should get closer to the window to bring the documents. I was definitely not the first one who came but nobody made a move so I went to the window instead. The officer was Indonesian and she was in charge to check the documents. She asked whatever listed on the appointment letter, my original birth certificate, marriage book, passport, photographs and the medical exam result. She only tore up the paper of my medical exam result envelope, then she returned it to me and brought all of the others documents and told me to wait. I brought more documents with me but she didn't check them, instead, she returned the documents that NVC probably sent them (Joe's passport copy, his tickets, and our pictures). 

Since I couldn't bring my phone, I couldn't update Joe about anything. Everyone has already given away the documents except one person who was not really prepared because she didn't bring photographs and the print out of the DS-160 form. I was patiently waiting until 02:20 PM until someone finally called my name to go to window #1. Once I got into the room, I met this super nice interviewer, thank God. The interviewer was American. She was so friendly, full of smiles, and she just made me feel welcome. She apologized for keeping me waiting but I said it was okay, and she said, "don't worry, the hardest part is over, I'm just gonna ask you to put your fingers on the machine". I was like "is she serious?" 😲 . And so I put my fingers on the scanner, and she started asking questions after that. 

Here lies our quick conversation:
Interviewer (I): I'm just gonna ask you a little bit about Joseph.
Me (M): Okay. (I remember reading on the thread that you don't have to talk too much and just answer the question with yes or no and say you don't remember if you forget anything, don't say anything that the interviewer don't ask)

I: Where is he now? And where did you two meet?
M: He lives in Louisville, Kentucky and we met on a dating website on February 19th, 2014. 

I: I checked in your marriage book that you got married in Cirebon (my hometown) and not in the USA, why did you choose to get married in Cirebon?
M: I am a Muslim, my father had to be there on the wedding day and it's not possible to bring all of my family for the wedding in the USA.

I: Ah yeah, I understand. You got married on October 25th, 2015. (And she was checking my passport and found Cambodia stamp). Did you two go to see Angkor Wat?
M: Ohh, no. I went there with a friend. Joe and I went to Bali and Balikpapan together, though.

I: That's cool (she's smiling all the time we're having this conversation, such a friendly interviewer), did he ever come again after you got married?
M: Yes, he was here in May, from May 8th to May 21st.

I: Okay, I told you that the hardest part is over. Your immigrant visa has been approved (I got teary eyes when she said that), congratulations. This paper tells you what you have to do to get your passport back, you will get it in a week or two weeks from now. Once again, congratulations! Now you can go home, we're done here.
M: Thank you so much!

The interview window (source: The Traveling Cow)

She didn't check any documents, she only looked at the computer, that's probably where she had all of my information. She returned my original birth certificate and marriage book. It happened no longer than 10 minutes. I could finally tell the whole world, I have been hiding a secret about this because I didn't want many people asked me about it frequently because that would only drive me more stressful. I went home with a big smile on my face and now Joe and I could finally execute our plans. But we still gotta wait until I get my passport back though 💃.

Visa Journey

Married: October 25th, 2015

USCIS Process
Priority date: January 25th, 2016
Service Center: Nebraska
Request for Evidence (RFE): May 19th, 2016
RFE received: June 24th, 2016
I-130 approved: July 1st, 2016

NVC Process
Choice of Agent (DS-261) completed: August 10, 2016
Affidavit of Support (AOS) Fee Invoiced: August 10, 2016
Pay AOS Fee: August 12th, 2016
AOS Fee appeared as PAID: August 14, 2016 
Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fees (IV Fee) Invoiced: August 10, 2016
Pay IV Fee: August 12, 2016
IV Fee appeared as PAID: August 14, 2016
Case Completed (CC) over the phone: November 3rd, 2016
Confirmation of CC email received: - (never get the email)
Interview date received over the phone: November 10th, 2016
Confirmation of Interview date email received: November 11th, 2016

Case "In Transit": November 16th, 2016
Case "Ready": November 17th, 2016

Interview Process
Medical (Jakarta, Indonesia): November 21st, 2016
Interview Date: December 29th, 2016 --- APPROVED ---

Fees
I-130 USCIS Filing Fee: $420
NVC Affidavit of Support Fee: $120
NVC Immigrant Visa Processing Fee: $325
Medical: $213.14 // IDR 2,887,632 (rate in November 2016 $1 = IDR 13,548)
Lawyer Fee: $ 2,950
USCIS Immigrant Fee: $220